I found two articles that I think many of you will find helpful and informative. I know I did! I completely agree with the author that our nation’s most vulnerable — immigrants, the poor, women, the old, the disabled, people of color, gay and transgender people, etc. — are being gaslighted and smeared by this administration so that WE are the monsters, while the real monsters paint themselves as the victims. This is a common manipulation tactic used by sociopaths called DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse the roles of Victim and Offender).
We have never had a president like Donald Trump before. This is NOT politics as usual, nor is it normal. You have every right to feel the way you do. You are not crazy.
What other administration acted the way these people do? What other president was hell-bent on destroying the truth? What other president waged a Twitter war against his predecessor and others who disagree with him? What other president was so obsessed with the number of people who voted for him or who showed up at his inauguration? What other president was so destructive, hell-bent on tearing down any and all agencies and programs that benefit and protect the everyday people, our environment, and democracy itself? What other president admired dictators and authoritarian regimes, and thumbed his nose at other western democracies as being “weak”? What other president used scare tactics and hatred to divide and conquer, the way Trump does at his rallies and on Twitter? Most politicians have more than average levels of narcissism, or they wouldn’t survive long in their jobs (or even be attracted to politics as a profession). But I think, in most cases, they had healthy narcissism, not the sort of malignant narcissism Donald Trump clearly suffers from. Nor do they surround themselves with equally sociopathic, destructive personalities.
It hit me how truly monstrous these sociopaths were when I saw this picture of them laughing after their “healthcare bill” that would toss 23 million people off healthcare passed the House back in May.
Until, then, like anyone who’s being abused, I wanted to believe they somehow had our best interests at heart.
They don’t. They have no conscience and no empathy. They are entitled and think they are above the law. They use toxic religion to manipulate and scare the religious into submission and to shame the vulnerable. Their intention is to destroy us and all that we hold dear. That is no exaggeration or crazy conspiracy theory (as they want us to think), and he is riling up his flying monkeys at his rallies. Most Trump supporters have authoritarian personalities, and authoritarianism is highly correlated with narcissism and antisocial behavior.
Even Republicans are abandoning their own party because of what it’s become. They aren’t a political party anymore. They are a cult. They show all the signs of being a cult, and Trump’s followers act like cult members.
Many people are being traumatized by Trump and his policies. Even his own staff are being abused and manipulated. Most of those who still have a conscience have already fled the White House or been fired (it’s my opinion that Sean Spicer was being traumatized and spiritually destroyed by his job).
I think those of us who endured narcissistic abuse have a special advantage because we recognize exactly what we are now faced with. We can and should call them out on their BS. I think we have a responsibility to fight against this darkness and our own abuse prepared us for this. And I believe that in the end, justice and truth will win. It always does.
It would be nice if we could go No Contact with our country, but for most of us, that isn’t a possibility. It’s not all hopeless though. We can fight back and resist, but we also need to take care of ourselves. The author of the C-PTSD article also wrote a post about how to survive what’s been dubbed Trump Trauma. Even therapists regard it as a real malady and are seeing a spike in their patient rolls since January.
Lucky Otters Haven 
Our government is utterly dysfunctional. Reminds me of the “Victim Triangle”. The Abuser, Rescuer, and Victim always exchange roles. Meanwhile, all “Black Sheep” (victims) must band together — join in a movement or new 3rd Party, and gather strength. Trump will eventually end up the political Victim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
DARVO: Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. That’s what they are doing. I agree we need a 3rd party. But the Republicans are breaking up too, many moderates are abandoning the GOP and becoming independent. They are growing weaker and all this threatening and attacking they are doing right now is what happens when the enemy knows he’s cornered.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More great insights. May the sound-minded rise up and take over!
LikeLiked by 1 person